The Government will conduct an operation at Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam shortly to inspect a house there that was suspected of being involved in unlawful occupation of government land.
 
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn made the remarks today, after attending a radio programme, as she responded to questions from reporters about the Redhill Peninsula case that was revealed after a once in 500 years rainstorm triggered a landslide on a slope where the house concerned was located.
 
Ms Linn said: “On the way forward for the proactive inspection in that estate, the two departments, Buildings Department and Lands Department, they are now making the necessary preparation for the relevant operation.
 
“And I cannot say for sure how long it will take because it depends on what they will see during the inspections and the complexities involved. But in short, the operation should be able to start very shortly.”
 
Apart from explaining why Redhill Peninsula had not been included in the list of estates for the Buildings Department’s proactive inspections in the past, the development chief rejected suggestions that there was negligence involved.
 
“I would not say so because all of our government colleagues, they act in good faith. Because each year they have to prioritise the caseload involving unauthorised building works on hand and with that prioritisation list, they act according to the priority and do the inspection work. So they are not sitting there and do nothing but it is a matter of prioritisation.”